Applegate Married to ABC's 'Sam I Am'

Christina Applegate, who won an Emmy the last time she appeared on a sitcom, will return to the genre in a pilot at ABC.

The former "Married ... with Children" star has taken the lead role in the Alphabet's "Sam I Am." Jean Smart ("24") has also joined the cast, while elsewhere at ABC, Amy Brenneman and Merrin Dungey are the latest to come aboard the potential "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff, the showbiz trade papers say. Additionally, Stephanie Childers will star in the comedy "American Family."

Applegate will play a woman suffering from amnesia in "Sam I Am," a single-camera comedy from writer Don Todd ("Ugly Betty," "ALF"). She won an Emmy in 2004 for her guest role on "Friends" and has also starred in "Anchorman" and "The Sweetest Thing."

Smart, an Emmy nominee last year for her work on "24," will play Applegate's mother. Tim Russ ("Star Trek: Voyager") has also been cast.

The would-be "Grey's Anatomy" spinoff, which focuses on Kate Walsh's character, has added former "Judging Amy" star Brenneman and ex-"Alias" regular Dungey. As with most things surrounding "Grey's," though, their roles on the show, which will be introduced in a two-hour episode in May, are being kept close to the vest.

"American Family," from writers David Ronn and Jay Scherick ("Norbit"), centers on a family who tries to keep a happy face on its chaotic life. Childers, who had a recurring part on NBC's "Studio 60" this season, will play the mother.